Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 52
गंतुं दुःखोदधेः पारं तर यावन्न भिद्यते । अविकारिशरीरत्वं दुष्प्राप्यं वै ततः
gaṃtuṃ duḥkhodadheḥ pāraṃ tara yāvanna bhidyate | avikāriśarīratvaṃ duṣprāpyaṃ vai tataḥ
దుఃఖసముద్రపు అవతలి తీరం చేరాలంటే, ఈ సాధనమైన దేహం ఇంకా భంగం కాకముందే దాటిపో. ఎందుకంటే తరువాత వికారరహిత దేహస్థితి పొందడం నిజంగా దుర్లభం.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa frame)
Listener: Śaunaka and sages (frame)
Scene: A vast dark ocean labeled ‘duḥkha’ with a fragile boat labeled ‘śarīra’; cracks begin to appear in the hull; a distant luminous shore marked ‘mokṣa’ or ‘pāra’; a pilgrim rows urgently while time (as a shadowy figure) approaches.
FAQs
Practice for liberation now—before the body fails—because such a capable human condition is rare and fleeting.
None is specified; the verse is an exhortation toward timely spiritual effort.
No specific rite; it prescribes immediate effort to ‘cross’ saṃsāra through dharmic-spiritual practice.